The Best Headphones for You

To help you plug in to the most listener-friendly headphones, we vetted 71 sets in three styles. After comfort, fit, sound, portability, water resistance, and durability tests, these were the resounding winners

Optimal Over-Ear

Optimal Over-Ear

Though bulky, this traditional style often pumps the highest-quality sound. Audiophiles, take note: Sony MDR-PQ1 ($100) broadcast clear tunes and adjust to fit well (but they do take up space in a bag).